Shipping container



NOV. 9, 1954 ELMENDORF 2,693,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -16 ,15 IInvenzar 15 N ""1 ,m IrmznZ/mendorf-- 1 ii f y 0mm Nov. 9, 1954 A.ELMENDORF 3 SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1950 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Nov. 9, 1954 A. ELMENDORF 2,693,895

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnvenzar 2.126??? Zimendorf "6y P LW NW .F/farnew.

Nov. 9, 1954. A. ELMENDORF 2,693,895

, SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 19. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jnuen forJrmz'i? .iimefidarl ylbbm JZ/arn 6y;

United States Patent SHIPPING CONTAINER Armin Elmendorf, 'Winnetkmlll.

Applicatiomlune 19, =1950,'.SerialNo. 168,956

-7 Claims. (Cl. 211-17) The .invention relates to .an improvement incontainers, and, particularly, .inshipping containers. One purpose istoprovide .a:shi pping container in which a veneermaterial, known by thetradename of filly-Veneer, is employed, such veneer-being anii'nvention'and development of the present applicant.

Another purpose is to provide a :shipping'. container which maybeshipped flat, and lisfleasily' assembled.

Anotherpurpose is to provide a shipping-container in which the sides areadequately reinforced by clea'ts, and the bOX sides are made ofone,pieee of box boardxwhich can be bent to a right angle at the boxedges, with-.the corners reinforced with steel strapping which cannotbuckle up and snag other boxesin shipment.

Another purpose .is to ;provide 'animproved corner structure forshipping containers.

Anotherpurposerszto provide .an improved reinforcing v structure for thecorners of shipping containers made of Ply-Veneer or ofothersuitableimaterials.

'Otherpurposes will appear from time to time in the course ofthespecification and claims.

l illustrate-my invention moreor' 1ess-.diagrammatical1y in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of .an embodiment .of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation'of 'the'st'ructu're of Fig ure 1, withpartsbroken'away' and with the top shown in open position; v

Figure 3 is asection, on-an-enlarged scale-, on the line 3-3 of Figure*1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the knockeddown assemblyof'the structure o'fFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, onthe line-55 ofFigure-4;

Figure 6 is a section, on an enlarged-scale, on -the line 6-6'of Figure'1;

Figure 7 .is'a'parti'al' plan view 'of a 'variant'form of construction;

.Figure'S is. a section 'onthe line 8--8 of Figure '7',

Figure '9 is 'a view :similar 'to Figure 8', of another variant formof-construction;

Figure 10 is a'perspective View of a knocked-down structure1of an:opentopped containermade inaceordanee with my inventi'on;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the -container of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is apartial plan view, similar' 'to Figure 7, of anotherformat my invention, with a difierent'rein forcement.

Like parts are indicated bytlikeasyrnlzaols throughoutthespecificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 'itwill be understood that the invention may:be applied to containers, such ."as

shipping containers, of different: sizes, shapes .=and-%proportions.

Whereas my invention may. be applied? to *aawideivariety no tendency"tobuckle whena: container in which theboard; .is used is subjected-to.moisture.

.lnconsidering thev container .of Figures 1 and' f'ollow ing-,Iillustrate .it asformedinone piece, which includesfourlargeconnectedpanels .A, .B, C, 'D and a closure panel'or small .fl'apE,...lorming a single piece or shell. The fivepanel's may .be.'formed ofa single piece or sheet of my composite veneerand paper or :fibermaterial, or

of fiber-hoard: or of :anyiothe'r suitable box board.Theknocked'-down..formf,.as shownfin Figure 4,.ma-ybe. shippedWhen-assembled into the completed layers 2' and'3, in which the wonderother, solid 'filler is omitted. As 'a result, the sheet can readily bebent,

as shown inFigure 2, to .form-a rightangle in which the outer bend or.outer ,part of the material is in tension, whereas the inner part 'ofthe material is in compression, as -wi 11 later "be discussed in greaterdetail. If conventional fiberboard or the like is 'used', the' usualscored fold or'bend' may be used.

I find .it advantageous .to provide a supporting frame for the'board.:ThiSTrame may be -ikprmedby. cleats or reinforcements 5,..fo'rexampleof wood, which are secured to the various panels A, B, C and D.With reference to Figures 2 and 3, T; illustrate cleats or boards 5,.the opposed, ends of which may :be iormed as mortise :and tenon'tointerpenetrate and 'to strengthen each other. Aswilljbe-clea -forexample, from Figure 5, the adjacent ends o'fop'posed cleats 5" arespaced apart, when the 'form or assembly is in the flat, by a break -orseparation 4', generally smaller'thanthe gap in the veneer in the com-,posite board. The larger gap in the veneer provides spaeefor the'folded pa'p'e'r or 'fiber' at'the inner surface oftth corner.

Whenthe form or assembly is spread out for shipment or 'storag'e, asshown in'Figur'e -ttherpanels A, B,-C, D .and Ermay be substantiallyorcornpletelyfiat, with their variousclea'ts "5 spaced'apart at theends,'and with their opposed mortise-andtenon elements open, 'butreadyfor entry. Whereas -I haveshown the cleats as in mortise andtenonform, it'willrbe understood that-any othersuitable'ieridiformation' may bexemployed. For example,'they may be'mitered, or. they may be square-ended, with space: allowed to permitthe vpanels to be 'bent'at a degree: angle in relation to each other.However, :the mortiseand tenon form is advantageous as providingsubstantial support against itransverse strain endwise' of the box,'or-at anaangle-to the sides of the box.

=Whereas lmay formthe 'box ends inany suitable way, I finditiadvan-tageouszto employ end panels VP and H, the ends obwhich extendbeneath the-c leats 5a of'the'panel .B. be panels IF-and I-I- amay be:scorred 'along'the edges of the cleats Savfor easy hendingyor a hingestructure may be employed, such as is *sh'own in "Figures '3 'and '6,innconnect ion with an interruption in the Ply-Veneer structure.

Thus,- in" order to assemble the structure of Figure 4, toprodueethecontainerof Figures l,- 2 and 3', all that isfinecessary is-iortheuser to bend thepanels' along their hinges, while "causing :thernortises and tenonsto interpenetrate. The closure ma'y be completed bysecuring the flap-4E, as 'shown in. Figure l, 'forexampleby driving insuitable nailsor--securing members 10 throughrthefiap E- and into thecleats of the:panels'-.=Azor 33. :If additional Fireman 9, 1954,

securing means. The result is a strong adapted to resist strain andwear.

Whereas the above described structure may be employed, under, somecircumstances, without additional reinforcement, I find it advantageousto employ a metal element or strap at the corners. I illustrate, forexample, an element which may be a thin steel strap narrower in widththan the cleats. It may be recessed into the surface of the veneer core,and preferably extends around the full perimeter of the box. It may berecessed into the outer surface of the veneer before the outer layer ofpaper 3 is applied, or it may be pressed into the paper and veneer inthe process of applying the paper in a press.- When the parts are bentinto the corner position, as shown, for example, in Figure 3, one of thesteel strapsor members 20 is located at each end of the container. Thestrap 20, upon being flexed, is under tension, but the fiber structurewithin it, at each corner of the box, is held under substantialcompression. Securing means, such as the nails 15, may be driven readilythrough the thin metal members or steel straps 20, as shown in Figure 3.

In the form of Figures 7 and 8 I illustrate a corresponding strap 21 asapplied exteriorly to a layer of kraft paper or fiber 3a, whichcorresponds to the layer 3 of Figure 3. The metal strap or element 21may be covered by an additional outer paper or fiber strip or layer 22.I

The form of Figure 9 diifers from the form of Figure 8 in that the samereinforcing structure is shown as applied to a dilferent box sidematerial. The member 23, for example, may represent fiber-board, to theexterior of which a metal strap 24 is applied. It, in turn, is coveredby an outer layer 25 of paper, fiber, or the like. It will be understoodthat, as to the reinforcing and corner structures of Figures 7 to 9,they will be understod as being applicable to the formation of thecontainer of Figure 1 or the knocked-down form. or assembly of Figure 4.

In Figures 10 and 11 I apply my invention to an opentopped box, such asis customarily used for shipping apples and other fruits. Since anupwardly bulged top or cover is ordinarily employed, which does not, ofitself, form part of my invention, 1 do not illustrate it, but merelythe open-topped box or container itself. It will be understood that theknocked-down form of Figure 10 may be made of the composite material ofFigures 1 to 8, or may be made of any other suitable material, such asthe fiber-board indicated in Figure 9. In any event, the form ofknocked-down structure includes panels X, Y and Z, each with itsappropriate cleats 5x and Sxx. Hinged beneath the cleats Sxx of thepanel Y are hinge panels M and N, with their cleats 70, 71. The panels Mand N may be hinged like the panels F or H, as shown in some detail inFigure 6, in connection with the form of Figures 1 and following.Whereas the structure can be shipped readily, fiat, in knocked-downform, it is very easily assembled. If the panels X, Y and Z are bent atright angles to each other, as shown in Figure 11, the lower corners ofthe box are formed by the mortise and tenon structure shown at theopposed ends of the cleats, or square ends or mitered ends may be used.The panels M and N are then swung into vertical position. The outer endsof the cleats of panels Z, X are cut back, as at 72, to leave space forthe end portions of the cleats 70, 71. The parts may then be nailed orotherwise secured together, and a strong box is provided into whichfruit or other materials can be filled. After the container is filled,then any suitable top member, such as the usual slat cover, may benailed, stapled, or otherwise applied. In hinging the end panels F and Hor M and N, I may omit the filler shown, for example, at 100 in Figure6, under the overlying cleat.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and claimed apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made insize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrativeor diagrammatic rather than aslimiting me to my specific showing herein. It will be understood, forexample, that all forms of container herein shown may he made of thecomposite material shown in Figures 1 and following, but may also bemade of fiber-board or other suitable structure, ideally material. I mayprovide the closure structure as herein shown, without employing areinforcing metal corner, but I prefer to employ the'peripheral metalreinforcements such as are shown at 20 in Figure 3, 21 in Figures 7 and8, 24 in Figure 9, and 75 in Figure 10. It may be a matter of choicewhether the metal reinforcement is received in a recess, as in the formof Figures 1 and following, or is covered by an outside layer ofmaterial, as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. It will be understood, also,that whereas I illustrate flat metal strips or straps, wires may beemployed, or any other suitable metallic reinforcements, as illustratedin Figure 12.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I illustrate two types of container herein, both of which are formedfrom knocked-down structures in which a plurality of panels are hingedto each other, and may be shipped or stored flat. I find that anadvantageous structure consists of a multi-layer sheet in which veneeris confined between inner and outer or upper and lower layers, havingthe general characteristics of kraft paper, fiber, or the like. Apractical way of forming the hinges is to leave a space or gap in theveneer between the paper layers. This corner structure is well shown,for example, in Figure 3. Each panel has cleats or reinforcements 5 or511, secured to it, which connect, abut or interpenetrate at the cornersto provide a strong reinforcing structure. I further prefer to employ ametal strap, such as a flat steel element, which is bent around thecorners at the ends of the box, and which thus provides an outercompression member which maintains the corner structure within it undersubstantial compression. As will appear, for example, from Figure 3, thesteel strap 20 maintains the fiber element 2 in compression. The resultis a structure of great strength which will resist shock and strain, butwhich is light and sightly. It will be understood that the cornerstructure may be employed with other materials, such as fiber-board. Itwill also be understood that the structures herein shown may, under somecircumstances, be employed without the metal reinforcement, although Iprefer its employment. Cord or twine might be used.

Whereas I have shown two specific containers, it will be understood thatmy structure is applicable to a wide variety of different forms andshapes of containers. I find that the hinged end panels, such as areshown in Figures 4 and 10, are advantageous in providing acoutainerwhich can be shipped readily as a knocked-down .unit, and quicklyassembled, with a minimum of time and effort, into a strong and usefulcontainer.

I claim:

1. A box including a composite box board shell constituting at leastthree connecting panels of a box, the box board consisting of a layer ofveneer bonded between two layers of strong paper, the shell beingdivided by hingeable portions into a plurality of stiff wall panelslocated at right angles to each other, each said wall panel having atits ends cleats at right angles to the grain of the veneer, the cleatsbeing formed and adapted to engage when the panels are bent at rightangles to each other, the edges of the adjacent panels being separatedby gaps in the veneer having a width not less than the thickness of theveneer, at least one paper layer spanning each such gap, and continuousflexible metal reinforcing straps extending about each end of the box,generally at the ends of the box, said straps extending about and beingaligned with and overlying the cleats, and being located between theouter paper layer and the layer of veneer, and extending continuouslyaround the corner bends of the panels, metal fastening means extendingthrough the straps and the shell and into the cleats, said fasteningmeans being thereby adapted, with the straps, to hold the box structurethus formed firmly together, and end members closing the ends of thespace surrounded by the panels.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the veneer of thepanels is separated along the grain into a plurality of closely adjacentbut separated wood elements, located in their original position in theveneer, with a separation between adjacent elements of a small fractionof the width of the individual elements, but with the elementssufiiciently separated to take up the expension. of the individualelements due to moisture, and thus to prevent cumulative expansion orbuckling of the panels by moisture.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the flexible metalreinforcing strap is recessed into-the exterior surface of the veneer.

4. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the composite boxboard shell includes five connecting panels arranged in series, with oneend panel of the series adapted to overlap the opposite end panel whenthe box is fully closed.

5. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the composite boxboard shell includes five connecting panels arranged in series, with oneend panel of the series adapted to overlap the opposite end panel whenthe box is fully closed, the metal reinforcing straps extending throughall five panels, and overlapping at their ends when the end panels areoverlapped, and box locking means positioned to extend through saidoverlapping panels and into the cleats of the innermost of theoverlapping panels.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the veneer of thepanels is separated along the grain into a plurality of closely adjacentbut separated wood elements, located in their original position in theveneer, with a separation between adjacent elements of a small fractionof the width of the individual elements, with the elements sufficientlyseparated to take up the expansion of the individual elements due tomoisture, and thus to prevent cumulative expansion or buckling of thepanels by moisture, the composite box board shell including fiveconnecting panels arranged in series, with one end panel of the seriesoverlapping the opposite end panel when the box is fully closed, themetal reinforcing straps extending continuously through the five panels.

7. A shipping container consisting of a foldable blank constituting atleast three connecting wall panels of a box, the blank consisting of alayer of wood veneer bonded between layers of strong paper, the blankbeing divided by hingeable portions into a plurality of stiff wallpanels located at right angles to each other when the container isassembled for use, each said wall panel having at its ends cleats atright angles to the grain of the veneer,

continuously around the corner bends of the panels, metal.

fastening means extending through the straps and the veneer and into thecleats, said fastening means being thereby adapted, with the straps, tohold the box structure thus formed firmly together, and end membersclosing the ends of the space surrounded by the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 206,850 Armstrong Aug. 13, 1878 1,205,925 Norman Nov. 21, 19161,217,852 Walker Feb. 27, 1917 1,534,045 Walter Apr. 21, 1925 1,712,493Elmendorf May 14, 1929 1,964,099 Walstrom June 26, 1934 2,018,712Elmendorf Oct. 29, 1935 2,039,859 Watkins May 5, 1936 2,106,499Francisco Jan. 25, 1938 2,262,267 Boeye Nov. 11, 1941 2,294,279 CarnwathAug. 25, 1942 2,374,539 Guyer Apr. 24, 1945 'Y FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 540,735 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1941

